By Betty Boyd, Military Affairs Committee
Our first MAC Champion is Gary Baillargeon, who currently works for Travelers Insurance. Gary moved to the Las Vegas area in January 2019 and wanted to be involved in the community as quickly as possible. His goal was to give back to the community he was becoming a part of.
Gary joined the Las Vegas chamber and shortly thereafter joined the MAC committee. His desire to be on the MAC was because his family has a military history and wanted a way to honor his family’s legacy.
Gary is involved in the Military Diversity Network for Travelers(MVDN). This network helps to provide many different services to veterans in the community that Travelers is involved in as well as, within the work environment.
It’s mission: The MVDN is focused on building awareness of veteran’s skills and experiences; promoting veteran’s career development; ensuring support for veteran/military employees; and enhancing Travelers’ military-friendly image locally and nationally.
Travelers support may organizations who align with the military including; Hiring Our Hero’s, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, Academy of Women, Team Rubicon as well as other community-based organizations. Travelers also sponsor a wall of heroes which honors Travelers employees who proudly served in the Military, sharing both their photo and story.
Gary’s direct involvement is as the lead for the MVDN in the Travelers Las Vegas office. He has organized a number of events, such as supply drives for the Veterans Village, served breakfast at Fisher House, he represented Travelers at the Chase/Vegas Chamber round table, and represented Travelers a job fairs specifically to hire military here in Las Vegas, working with his corporate MVDN team he has reached out to Nellis to support their Hiring our Heroes Fellowship Program. Outside of the MAC and the MVDN Gary is a volunteer and certified coach for Special Olympics of Southern Nevada.
Recently, Gary was promoted to a position of Regional Lead for the networks in Nevada, California, and Hawaii. He looks forward to involving the MAC wherever possible in these various events. Gary relates, “sometimes the simple things are the best.” An example, his office did a Valentine Day card drive for an active deployed military. They signed cards to express their appreciation to show them they are not alone.
Because of all that Gary has been doing, he was chosen as Travelers 2019 Military Veterans Diversity Network Member of the Year. He is humbled and gives credit to his Las Vegas MVDN team and his Las Vegas Travelers Office staff for all that they do to support the Military and these events. These activities happen because of our commitment to our Travelers’ values.
Gary’s inspiration is his father who by his example showed the importance of giving back and serving others. His dad served in World War II in the Army and then reenlisted in the Airforce to serve in the Korean Conflict. Gary is a great inspiration, a giving human being and deserving of being a MAC Champion.
For more articles by the Military Affairs Committee, click here.
